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Chapter 917 - 917 98 Follow-Up Request for Monthly Pass

917: Chapter 98: Follow-Up (Request for Monthly Pass) 917: Chapter 98: Follow-Up (Request for Monthly Pass) September on the Continent of Aslante is bustling with activity.

First came the news of the total annihilation of the Church Fleet in the Sea of Mist, followed by word of Pope Shelter VII’s breakthrough into the Sanctuary.

Hudson’s continued survival alone reveals how much influence one Sanctuary Powerhouse can have on the continental power structure.

The reason this has caused such a sensation is that it’s the Pope who has advanced to the Sanctuary.

If it were someone else, it would merely be idle gossip over tea, unable to shake the entire continent.

Those who were truly stirred were the Eighth-order Strongmen who remained just outside the threshold of the Sanctuary.

In the past, everyone was halted at the peak of the Eighth Order and, while there were disparities, they were not overly pronounced.

But now, in the blink of an eye, that fellow Shelter VII has actually made the first breakthrough into the Sanctuary, instantly creating a gap between himself and the rest, much to the displeasure of many old-timers.

Suddenly, everyone is either in seclusion or seeking opportunities—in short, no one is idle.

Beyond his extraordinary status, Shelter VII’s strength is also a focal point of attention.

To many, he wields a trio of Divine Artifacts.

The Inherited Artifact bestowed by the Lord of the Dawn matches Shelter VII’s attributes perfectly, and the backlash when using it is undoubtedly the least severe among all artifacts.

Even when at the Eighth Order, the Pope, armed with the trio of Divine Artifacts, was capable of contending with Sanctuary Powerhouses.

Now that he has crossed this threshold, the artifacts enhance Shelter VII’s power even more.

In the eyes of many, Shelter VII, possessing Magic Attack, Physical Attack, and Comprehensive Defense Divine Artifacts, seems invincible.

The title of the strongest on the continent has now fallen upon Shelter VII.

Hudson watches with pure envy.

It’s not the title of the strongest that he envies, though.

Shelter VII, having lost two Attack Divine Artifacts, holds a title that’s heavily diluted.

Even if the Clergy still possesses other artifacts, those would be plundered from elsewhere and definitely not as seamless to use as inherited ones.

Shelter VII, with his maxed Defense Attribute but lacking Attack Power, clearly does not live up to the title of the strongest on the continent.

He’s fine when bullying those below the Sanctuary Level, but when facing peers, he can only gain a slight advantage.

After all, Divine Artifacts are great to use but also carry a heavy cost!

The Guardian Enchantment they release also has a time limit.

Unite a dozen or so Eighth-order Strongmen for an assault, and they could force Shelter VII to flee.

Of course, that’s just about chasing him away.

A Sanctuary Level Strongman, as long as he does not court death, is virtually immortal.

Invincibility is always relative.

However, the Holy Crown in Shelter VII’s hands still makes Hudson drool with longing.

Exclusive defense artifacts are exceedingly rare; equipped with the Holy Crown, one’s personal safety coefficient would significantly increase.

Influenced by Shelter VII’s ascension to the Sanctuary, a kingdom meeting was specially convened.

Unlike previous meetings, besides the Chancellor and the King, the attendees were all Eighth-order powerhouses from various realms.

As the Kingdom’s bastion of strength, Hudson naturally did not miss out.

…

“Shelter VII’s breakthrough into the Sanctuary proves that the doors to the Sanctuary are once again open to humans.

In the coming years, the continent will surely see an emergence of strongmen.

Today, we have invited everyone here mainly to provide a platform for exchanging insights on cultivation and resources, hoping that you all can break through to the Sanctuary soon,” said Caesar IV with a look of anticipation.

The Sanctuary isn’t something you can break through just by wanting to; it’s like a cycle.

Every few hundred years, the continent experiences a burst of strongmen, followed by centuries of silence.

If you’re in an era where strongmen are abundant, it’s an opportunity; but, missing it, those who can break through against the current are truly exceptional talents.

Across the entire Continent of Aslante, the Kingdom of Alpha doesn’t have many Eighth-order Strongmen, but those who do exist come from the battlefield and have slightly superior combat power.

Yet, to break through to the Sanctuary, that alone is far from enough.

Rich combat experience and understanding the Laws are entirely different realms.

Treasures that aid in comprehending the Laws needn’t be considered, as they’re legendary items that are stumbled upon rather than sought.

All the Kingdom can do is to provide a platform for communication and exchange, in the hope that someone will take this critical step.

In this respect, Hudson has no say.

Even though he owns a Sanctuary-level mount, he’s still a weakling.

Dragons and bears rely on their natural talents, and their breakthrough experiences have no reference value for humans.

Exchange is merely everyone else speaking, while Hudson’s role is to listen.

“Your Majesty, many of us have been stuck just outside the Sanctuary for many years, now just a step away from breaking through.

Yet it is this very last step that has confounded countless heroes throughout history.

If it were before the destruction of the Church Fleet, I would advise my Dark System friends to scheme over the Core of the Ghost Ship.

But now, I can only urge everyone to abandon the idea of seeking external power for assistance,” Morrison said with an implied meaning.

Those capable of reaching this realm are either exceptionally talented or cultivation fanatics.

The Sanctuary Level has now become an obsession for many.

In their pursuit of advancing, they would stop at nothing.

It’s not easy for the Kingdom to accumulate experts, and Morrison does not want to watch people rush to the Misty Marine Region seeking opportunities, only to meet their demise.

“Morrison, you’re stating the obvious.

The Church’s Top Three Fleets set out, accompanied by nearly a hundred Eighth-order masters if not eighty, yet all were annihilated.